Elana Meyers Taylor of the U.S. got her fourth women’s monobob victory of the season on Saturday, the 25th overall win of her career in major international competition.
Australia’s Breanna Walker was second, and Germany’s Laura Nolte was third. Kaillie Humphries of the U.S. took fourth, meaning the Americans joined Canada as the only nations with two sleds in the top six spots. Cynthia Appiah was fifth and Melissa Lotholz sixth for the Canadians.
Meyers Taylor had the fastest time in the first heat and the second-best time in the second heat. She finished in 1 minute, 58.76 seconds. Walker’s time was 1:58.93 and Nolte’s was 1:59.01.
Laura Nolte from Germany smiles after her third place at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 . (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
Meyers Taylor has 19 wins in traditional two-person World Cup races, two more in world championship events and now four in monobob. The monobob event will be part of the Olympic program for the first time at the Beijing Games, meaning women’s bobsledders now have two medal events.
TWO-MAN
Germany's Francesco Friedrich was the fastest the whole way, easily winning Saturday's two-man race at Winterberg — the 100th medal of his World Cup career, including one claimed in a team event in 2013.
Friedrich teamed with Alexander Schueller to win in 1:49.78, getting his 13th victory in his last 14 World Cup two-man events.
Germany also got the silver, with the sled of Johannes Lochner and Florian Bauer finishing in 1:50.11. Canada got third, with Justin Kripps and Cam Stones finishing in 1:50.63.
Hunter Church and Charlie Volker were 13th for the U.S., and newly promoted Frank Del Duca teamed with Hakeem Abdul Saboor to finish 15th. It was Del Duca's World Cup debut as a driver.
“This is one of Hunter’s best finishes this season, and Frank did a heck of a job in his very first World Cup on a new track with a new sled,” U.S. coach Mike Kohn said.
UP NEXT
Sunday has a women's bobsled race, then a four-man event.
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